THE BOMBARDMENT OF TAMATAVE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6787, 18 August 1883, Page 10 (Supplement)

THE BOMBARDMENT OF TAMATAVE.

The following is the translation of a letter which appeared in Le Progres Colonial, published at Port Louis, Mauritius, Monday, the 25th of June. The editor thus writes of their correspondentWe give lower down a correspondence which we received too late yesterday. It comes from one of our friends who commands a vessel, and has had a long acquaintance with matters Malagasy, and permits his being heard on the subject." The correspondence is dated Tamatave, the 13th June: —Tamatave is to-day a French town. Three days before the commencement of hostilities I received on board 204 unfortunate persons, of which there were 27 Mauritius families, making altogether 157, and the balance mado up of Malagasy people, who preferred taking refuge on board vessels to remaining on shore at the mercy of the Hova authorities; thus during eight days it was compulsory to keep these people on board. They preferred being uncomfortable rathey than at the mercy of the Malagasys, The other shore people found refuge on board ships of war and merchant vessels which were then at anchor. Od Sunday, the 10th June, at a quarter to eight in the morning, the Flore, commanded by Admiral Pierre—a gentleman of colour from Martinique, an officer' of great energy, and one of the most distiaguished in tho French marine, fired the first cannon shot, imme diately followed by five other vessels, which continued to fire. The Nievre, which was at anchor at the south point of Tamatave Harbour, bombarded tbo town at the back, while the others at the front kept up a brisk fire at the fort and up to Point Tpnmau. . It was a fine sight, place*, as I was on my foretopsail yard, and withal something to make one laugh—to see the haste the Hovas made to get out;, of the way of the fire of the French fleet.. Several men killed ; and the guns did not cease firing until half-past five in the evening. ' Tamatave was burning brightlj and created quite'an illumination. All the Malagasj houses covered with;straw surrounding the fort, were completely destroyed. The houses of the French and .English were pierced by bullets, but the damage was insignificant. On Monday, at 20 miauteß past six, the guns continued firing. Two Bhips of war were sent to' the south to bombard that part of the;coast near Manourhou, burning everything,. Two other's were Bent

to the north, bombarding and bnrnihg Foulpointe,.Mah&mbo,.Tenenfe,andtheveßsela air returned to Tamatave, Here each time any Hovaa were Been, the ' Flora f and ;the. Boursaint, having pieces that carried a long distance, used them' with • a considerable amount" of execution; - and ceased 'firing at eight o'olock in the evening. On Tuesday, at three o'clock in the morning, a force of marines was landed, and. took possesion of the town and fort, burning and destroying all the houses of the Malagasy,, killing all who were committing =; depredations .on property. About three o'alock in the afternoon I got permission from the admiral to land, at my own risk ;.I saw five Malagasys shot who were caught, setting .fire to places, and others had been run through with a iiword. On Wednesday, the French • commenced to fortify the . battery, -so that •on Thursday the French. flag was flying from ■ the port. Admiral Pierre had organised a Government by appointing a mayor, collector of customs, harbour-master, and named Commander of thn Boursaint to fill that position. The came day it was notified to the consuls that the Hova flag no longer existed, and that for the future the French would carry on the administration at Tamatave.-: On all sides notices were placarded with this announcement. . The sale of spirits was prohibited. Before coneluding this letter I may tell you Tamatave at the hour I write is a desolate-looking place, and how long this is to last no one knowß.. The priests of the mission and the Sisters of Charity are in the greatest despair. It is said the Princess Juliette has disappeared. She was condemned tocleath by a council of war. A largo amount of correspondence was found' at Majunga, at the house of the Governor, which baa implicated her, giving the Hovas all the iafornbation she could of the movements'of the French.